Store-service apparatus



To a/ZZ whom, it may corwcrn.-

Nrren STATES VILLIAM S. LAMSON, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,923, dated February5, 1884. Application tiled December 10, 1883. (No model.)

Be it known that I, WM. S. LAMsoN, of LowelhMiddlesex county,Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Store-ServiceApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of storeservice apparatus in whichgraduated carriers move upon ways between the main desk and thestations; and my invention consists in automaticswitch apparatuswherebyany ofthe carriers, as desired` may be automatically directed trom themain track to a branch track.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of sufficient of astore-service apparatus to show my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view;and

` Fig. 8 is a section on thelineI and 2, looking in the direction of thearrow.

VA is the main track, and B is the side track, which branches to oneside to a point beneath the main track, and extends to one or more ofthestations of the store. Sections a a of the main-track rail are connectedtogether to form a switch, D, pivoted at x, so that the switch-railsremain normally in line with the track, in which case the carriers willpass along the main track; or the switch may be tilted to the positionshown in dotted lines, Figi, in which case the carrier will be directedto the branch track B. In order that the switch thus formed may beoperated automatically, I use any available appliance that will lock theswitclrrail in one position, but will be operated by' carriers of adetermined size or construction to unlock the switch and permit it todirect such carriers to the side track. One means which I have found tobe practically effective is shown inthe drawings, and consists of acatch-lever, b, pivoted at one side of the track and catching under alug or lip, e, of the switch to hold itin place, and an operatinglever,It, pivoted to a standard, fm, atthe side ofthe track, jointed to thecatchlever b, and provided with an adjustable contact-pin, t'. Carrierswhich pass freely below the pin t will not affect the position of theswitch; but larger carriers that strike the pin lwill .lift the upperend of the lever hand move the catch-lever to release the switch, whenthe latter will fall under the weight of the carrier and will direct thelatter to the branch track. It will be evident that there is no tendencyof the carrier-to leave the track as it operates the switch, the pin t'tending rather to keep it to the track, and the switch being operated bythe momentum of the carrier alone and not byits gravity. The switchcarries a counterbalance-weight, s, or is otherwise counterbalanced soas to recover its position when the carrier passes from it, the point ofthe lip e being beveled so as to force back the lever b, which thenslips under the lug and holds the switch in place.

Vithout limiting myselfto the precise construction of switch andoperatingV devices shown, I claim- A l. In a cash-service apparatushaving graduated carriers, the combination of a main track, branch trackextending to stations ofthe store, switch devices for locking the samein one position, and appliances arrL nged to be moved by the carriers tobe switched and to thereby cause the switch to assumea position todirect the carriers onto the other track, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the main track, side track, switch pivoted that itmay be brought to coincide with either track, lock, and applianceswhereby to unlock and change the p Osition of the switch by the actionof some of the carriers, while others are permitted to pass onward uponthe main line.

3. The combination, with the track of a store-service apparatus, of apivoted switchsection, and locking device constructed to be operated bythe momentum of special carriers to unlock said section and permitl thesame to move under the weight of the carrier, substantially asspecified. i.

In testimony whereoi` I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

w. s. LAMsoN.

Witnesses:

CHARLEs E. Fos'rnn, E. L. GnosvENoR.

